Home Group Sermon Series - 2021
Parables and Possessions. September - November
Parables are stories intended to convey spiritual truths. They are ‘an earthly story with a heavenly meaning!’ The characters in parables are identified by their occupations: a farmer, a merchant, a shepherd or a priest. They aren’t named - but these people could be real, and that’s the point. The characters in parables are instantly recognisable, regardless of time or culture - that’s why these deceptively simple stories are so full of wisdom and so strikingly memorable and true to life.
Parables also have a lot to teach us about our attitude to possessions. It is clear God wants us to make good decisions about our possessions which will have a positive impact on ourselves as well as those around us. The more we make Jesus a priority in our lives, and the more we build our relationship with him, our attitude to possessions becomes less about sacrifice and more about a natural response to God’s generosity and love. As we study this series, bringing together the two themes of ‘Parables and Possessions’, let us allow the Holy Spirit to strengthen our faith, give us hope in challenging times, and help shape our lives.
HG232 : Watch on YouTube
Forgiveness:
The Parable of the Lost Son
Luke 15:11 - 32
Christine Williams - 28th November
HG231 : Watch on YouTube
Sacrifice:
The Parables of the Lost Sheep & Coin
Luke 15:1 - 10
Rachel Orford - 7th November
HG230 : Watch on YouTube
Ridicule:
The Parable of the Rich Fool
Luke 12:13 - 34
Pauline Woolnough - 24th October
HG229 : Watch on YouTube
Betrayal:
The Parable of the Wicked Tenants
Matthew 21:33 - 46
James Van Cleef - 10th October
HG228 : Watch on YouTube
Transformation:
The Parable of the Good Samaritan
Luke 10:25 - 37
Paul Carr - 26th September
HG227 : Watch on YouTube
Temptation:
The Parable of the Sower
Matthew 13:1 - 23
Christine Williams - 12th September
God's Promises In The Psalms. April - July
It is often said the Bible is not relevant to people today, but that’s not true of the Psalms. The Psalms were written as a response to the many situations in which the writers found themselves - situations not too dissimilar to the ones we find ourselves today. They are not out of touch with the harsh realities of life, nor do they observe the world through rose-tinted spectacles. They reflect the reality of human experience, warts and all, which is why Charles Spurgeon wrote: “The Psalms are to be experienced rather than studied” and we can be encouraged as we remind ourselves of ‘God’s Promises In The Psalms.’
Our Hope Is Found In... January - April
Our world has faced unprecedented levels of disruption these past several months. At times, it feels like living on the film set of an apocalyptic movie. The spread of COVID 19 has reminded us of our fragility and how we’re not in control of our own destiny as much as we thought we were. But as we seek to rebuild in this time of major disruption, and with many uncertainties still ahead, how can we, God’s people, experience spiritual hope? Where can we find the resources we need to face the future? If ever there was a time to be reminded about what sustains our faith and gives us hope in our Christian faith it is now.